Photography by Jan Nathanael

Innovative. Collaborative. Interdisciplinary.

Starting from school time, and thanks to my peerless physics teacher, my passion to science has been ingnited. Back then, patching together styrofoam housings, hand-soldered electronics shielded in food cans, and aquarium hoses felt like high-tech straight from the early garages of today's silicon valley CEO's. Time has passed, methods evolved, yet the passion stayed. Today, I am proud to look back on 10 years of profound studies in physics and photonics, and more than 2 years of research experience, which have refined my scientific interests to optofluidics and nonlinear optics for applications in quantum photonics as well as machine learning. I am very grateful to all my supportive peers and look forward to continue and intensify my research aspirations in the coming years. If you are interested in my work, get in touch.

Professional experience


since 08/2022

Leibniz Institute of Photonics Technology, Jena, GER
Independent group leader and head of Smart Photonics department


since 09/2019

INRS-EMT, Montreal/Varennes, CA
Postdoctoral fellow in the Nonlinear Photonics group by Prof. Roberto Morandotti


09/2013 - 01/2019

Leibniz Institute of Photonics Technology, Jena, GER
Doctoral researcher in the Hybrid Fibers group by Prof. Markus A. Schmidt


10/2012 - 06/2013

Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Doctoral trainee in the Laser Analytics group by Prof. Clemens Kaminski


05/2010 - 08/2012

Institute of Applied Physics, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, GER
Research assistant in the Fiber Lasers group by Prof. Jens Limpert and the Ultrafast Optics group by Prof. Stefan Nolte

Education


09/2013 - 02/2019

Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, GER
Dr. rer. nat. in physics with distinction summa cum laude and two interdisciplinary recognitions
Thesis title: Soliton dynamics in liquid-core optical fibers


10/2012 - 06/2013

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Certificate of Postgraduate Studies in chemical engineering
Thesis title: Novel supercontinuum source for improved time-resolved sensing


10/2006 - 12/2011

Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, GER
German diploma in physics (BSc and MSc equivalent)
Thesis title: Optical parametric picosecond fiber laser for coherent Anti-Stokes Raman microscopy

Awards and Recognitions

2021 – FRQNT international postdoctoral fellowship (CA)

2020 – Beutenberg Campus Award for Life Science and Physics (Jena, GER)

2020 – Seal of Excellence of the European Research Council as sign of recognition for a top-rated MSCA research proposal

2019 – Friedrich-Hund Thesis Award for Applied Science by the Wilhelm-Else Heraeus Foundation

2019 – NSERC Banting postdoctoral fellowship (highest distinction for young researchers in Canada)

2012 – Doctoral Training Grant from the University of Cambridge

2004-2006 – Several provincial, national, and international young researcher prizes, incl. first price in physics in the national Jugend forscht science fair 2004 (GER), the first prize of the European Commission 2004 (IRL), and the second Intel ISEF prize in physics 2005 (USA).